More than 560 people attended the sixth annual Pizza Party on the Capital Lawn Thursday, August 10. The event raised more than $4,550 for the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, which awards scholarships to students enrolled in Michigan colleges and universities who have experienced foster care.

The amount raised at this year's Pizza Party pushed the total for all six events to $29,418, helping make the dream of a college education a reality for students who otherwise might lack resources to pursue higher education when they age out of the foster care system.

In addition, 80 pillows were collected during the Pizza Party for The Pillow Effect, a Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative which aims to ensure successful outcomes for young adults as they transition out of foster care. Because children entering foster care often don't have their essential personal items with them, The Pillow Effect provides pillows to foster care youth in Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton/Eaton, Ingham, Ionia/Montcalm, Jackson, Livingston and Macomb counties. Financial donations are also accepted and $124 was collected at the Pizza Party.

"The Pillow Effect"

Every child deserves to have a comfortable place to lay their head at night. In its third year," The Pillow Effect," a Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI) program, will accept donations of new standard pillows and pillow cases for distribution to youth entering foster care. The project has expanded to include distribution to youth in Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton/Eaton, Ingham, Ionia/Montcalm, Jackson, Livingston and Macomb counties.

If you cannot attend the Pizza Party but would like to donate to the “Pillow Effect,” contact your county MYOI coordinator for details on dropping off new standard size pillows and pillowcases.

The purpose of the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI) is to ensure successful outcomes for young adults as they transition out of foster care in the areas of housing, education, employment, financial capability, health and wellness, permanency, social skills and community engagement.